NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwire) -- 02/06/13 -- Lost revenues from expiring patents has played a major part in the Biotech Industry's success in recent years. A total of 676 takeovers of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies have occurred in the past three years, with an average premium of 38 percent, according to data collected by Bloomberg. Five Star Equities examines the outlook for companies in the Biotech Industry and provides equity research on Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: NBIX) and Opexa Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: OPXA).

At the end of the third quarter five of the biggest drug makers in the U.S. held over $70 billion in cash, near cash and short-term investments. Major revenue losses from patent expirations have forced big pharmaceutical companies to look to biotech companies to help fill the void. Pfizer's Lipitor and Bristol-Myers' Plavix, which lost exclusivity in late 2011, had combined annuals revenues of $17 billion at their peaks.

"We're through many cost-cutting programs, restructurings and portfolio arrangements," said Henry Gosebruch, Managing Director, Mergers & Acquisitions J.P. Morgan. "When you put that together with record levels of cash available and improving, but still moderate R&D productivity, we think there will be more big pharma M&A activity in 2013."

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Neurocrine Biosciences is a biopharmaceutical company focused on neurological and endocrine diseases and disorders. In January the company reported two additional patents from the European and U.S. patent offices have been granted related to its proprietary VMAT2 inhibitor. The company is scheduled to release results for the fourth quarter and full year 2012 on Friday, February 8th.

Opexa Therapeutics' leading product candidate, Tcelna, has the potential to address the significant unmet medical needs of the large multiple sclerosis (MS) patient population. Shares of the company were sent soaring after it reported it has entered into an option and license agreement with Merck Serono for the development and commercialization of Tcelna for the treatment of MS.

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